ELLESMERE College is offering a unique scholarship to potential sixth form students to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Save the Children.

Founded by Ellesmere resident Eglantyne Jebb, Save the Children was built around the principles of helping others within the community, something the college wants to recognise and reward.

Applications for the Jebb Scholarship are invited from young people who can demonstrate their commitment to the community they live in, and the people they support – through volunteering their time, working on community projects, or raising money for local charities.

The Jebb Scholarship will support one student through the duration of their education at Ellesmere College and a further means tested bursary can also be applied to this scholarship, if required.

Brendan Wignall, headmaster at Ellesmere College, said the scholarship is a fitting tribute to the work of Eglantyne Jebb.

He said: “The 100-year commemoration of Save the Children makes 2020 a very special year and concentrates attention on the amazing work carried out by these amazing sisters.

“Eglantyne Jebb and the town of Ellesmere will be forever linked and we thought it would be a fitting tribute to launch a scholarship in her name.

“It is something the college and the town can be proud of and will prove to be a tremendous educational support for future beneficiaries.”

Meanwhile, Eglantyne’s great-great nephew Richard Jebb, said he was delighted by the news.

He said: “I am delighted to hear that Ellesmere College has set up a scholarship in Eglantyne’s name.

“Her life’s work was all about permitting children – regardless of their background, religion or nationality – to reach their full potential, and this scholarship embodies her ideals in a very tangible fashion.

“It is also very welcome that a school located less than a mile from her birthplace and with which she would have been personally familiar has been able to set this up in the centenary year of Save the Children’s foundation.”